Starbucks to Buy Teavana

Chip wrote:Thing is, Starbucks keeps them coming back over and over over.

I cannot imagine Teavana keeps 'em coming back for more than a few times, instead squeezing everything they can get from each customer walking through the door (for fear they may never return?) instead of looking for the long term relationship.

Two rather divergent strategies.

I've always assumed that Teavana tea was better than supermarket tea bags so if someone wasn't accustomed to doing research online they could be satisfied with Teavana tea. Just a guess because I've never been in one of their stores - not after reading about them here!

... thing is, so many have fallen victim to walking in thinking they would just pick up some healthy tea ... perhaps part of a life changing event (heaven help them if they disclose that they are new to tea), and $200 or more later wandering out of the store in shock wondering what just happened.

And then later they may realize, you know this so called "best teapot in the world for brewing tea" tetsubin really sux at making tea.

Suddenly tea does not taste so good ... perhaps.

We may drop $200 on tea or wares, but we have the benefit of time in making worthy decisions.

And yet, Teavana built this huge tea empire and made a fortune in the process. My initial reaction to the news was a literal gag reflex ... but now I don't know what to think.

... in the 24 hours after the deal was announced on Wednesday, the value of Starbucks fell by about $1bn.

About the acquisition Starbucks CEO said “the romance and theater of the retail experience that is the heart and soul of Starbucks heritage, will create a differentiated customer experience" .

Andrew Mack, ceo and co-founder of Teavana, who has committed to staying and leading Teavana’s day-to-day operations said ,“By contributing deep tea expertise, global sourcing capabilities and a passion for the category that is second to none in our industry, we believe we can deliver an elevated tea experience together with Starbucks ” .

And Jeff Hansberry, who is to run the new subsidiary said the deal will “create a rich ecosystem of experiences with shared values ... and a differentiated health and wellness offering in the marketplace”.

Kills me how Teavana is represented. Kills me more that my dad sent me this article (not ironically). Kills me the most that when I try to talk to my uncle (super into tea long before I was born) about tea, he gets all excited about his newest Teavana aquisitions. *sigh

I 2nd the bad over roasted coffee beans of Starbucks/Seattle's Best are horrid and bitter - can't drink it unless it is like a mocha with lots of milk/sugar added to camoflauge the bitter after taste of their coffees. And I haven't been inside a Teavanna since the last time they kept trying to sell me more than what I asked for.. finally got her to stop by saying that was all that was in the budget.. ugh... never again..